IBMMA 9

chapter 9

Thankfully, Baek Mu-wol escorted me all the way to a street near my house.

Once I had calmed down a bit, he gently suggested,

“Someone might see us. It would be better to part ways here.”

He really was thoughtful—unlike most people in this place. I nodded.

“I think that would be best too.”

“I’ll be going now. Don’t think about anything today—just get some good rest.”

Normally, I hated being told to rest.

But this time was different.

My heart felt warm.

I watched his retreating figure, then suddenly called out,

“Sir!”

Baek Mu-wol turned around immediately. I smiled as brightly as I could.

“Thank you so much for today.”

He smiled back at me before disappearing from sight.

It suddenly occurred to me—since martial artists have sharp hearing, maybe he had overheard some of what Yuhan and I talked about.

But somehow, I felt like it would be fine if it was him. After all, I had seen how kind he could be.

“That was really touching. He even lied for me, and we haven’t known each other long.”

As much as I hated to admit it, my brother would never talk about me outside. It must have been because my expression looked bad that Baek Mu-wol said those things.

The moment I stepped inside, Ye-han hurried toward me.

“Where have you been, Miss? A messenger just came—he said the young master is at the inn.”

“…Really?”

“He said he forgot to send word because he was drinking all night with his friends.”

So my brother had deliberately left me out of it. I should be grateful.

Half-listening to Ye-han, I asked,

“How are Father and Mother?”

“They were relieved and went to the inn. Are you going as well?”

“No. I’m tired. I’ll rest.”

Ye-han looked surprised but nodded.

As soon as I entered my room, I collapsed onto the bed and thought about Yuhan.

Time had passed, so I had calmed dow—

Calmed down my foot. I was still furious.

Yuhan should be grateful he was born into the Namgung family.

If he weren’t some noble young master from a prestigious clan, I would have said a thing or two to him. He should go through what I did and suffer a bit—that way he’d realize how wrong his words were.

How was I supposed to tell my parents?

If I told them what happened, they would be even more hurt than I was.

As my worries grew into mountains, I remembered what Baek Mu-wol had said.

“Don’t think about anything today. Just rest.”

“…Right. I’ll think about it later.”

I needed rest.

Maybe because I had cried so much, sleep came easily.

I slept. And slept.

Ye-han tried to wake me several times, but I ignored her and went back to sleep.

Since I slept unusually long, my parents even came in to check on me. Half-asleep, I couldn’t greet them, but I felt their warm hands gently stroking my face.

“Our beautiful daughter.”

Even in my drowsiness, I felt their warmth clearly.

Maybe that’s why I tried to keep sleeping.

As long as I slept, I could escape the guilt.

But even that had limits.

The next day, after sleeping far too much, I found myself wide awake, staring blankly at a book I had no interest in.

Ye-han, carrying laundry, kept glancing at me oddly.

Well, of course she would.

Normally, I would dress up immediately after waking and go greet my parents.

But today, I couldn’t.

Because I was still—

“How on earth am I supposed to explain this…”

—thinking.

Father had said he would send a letter to the head of the clan. I needed to explain before that.

I spent the morning agonizing without accomplishing anything.

Then—

“Miss, Lady Nanhyang is here.”

“Nanhyang?”

“Yes, I don’t know what it’s about, but she seems quite urgent—”

“So-jin!”

Before Ye-han could finish, Nanhyang burst in.

“Why? What’s wrong?”

“It’s bad! Do you know what’s happening outside right now?”

A sense of dread washed over me.

“…What’s happening?”

“There’s a rumor spreading that marriage talks with the Namgung heir fell through because you weren’t good enough!”

I was stunned.

“What…?!”

“Is it true? You said nothing had been decided!”

“It’s true—nothing was decided!”

“Then what’s with the rumor?!”

“I don’t kn—ugh, my head…”

Nanhyang and Ye-han rushed to support me.

Who spread such nonsense?

The first person must have only said the truth—that there had been potential talks between Han So-jin and the Namgung heir.

But as it passed through people’s mouths, it must have grown exaggerated.

And whoever started it probably intended that.

“Do Mother and Father know? Ye-han, where are they?”

“They went out this morning to discuss business with another merchant group…”

Then they definitely know.

I shut my eyes tightly.

No matter how afraid I was of hurting them, I should have told them yesterday.

Who could it be?

It had only been me, Yuhan, and Baek Mu-wol there.

Wait.

That bastard?

The man I had thrown into the river.

Considering he had tearfully tattled to Yuhan, it was entirely possible.

“So-jin! Where are you going?!”

“Please calm down, Miss!”

I was about to storm out, dragging both Nanhyang and Ye-han along.

But just as I reached the door, I stopped.

“Wait.”

There was no guarantee it was him.

Maybe someone overheard something from the Namgung side.

Women who had once admired the Namgung heir often became subjects of ridicule after being rejected.

It was possible.

“Why are you so strong?!”
“She won’t budge!”

Calm down.

Right now, people’s attention toward me was at its peak. If I acted rashly, my marriage prospects would be ruined entirely.

At least the detailed reason for the rejection hadn’t been revealed.

This world was still conservative. The elders of other families deciding marriages likely shared Yuhan’s values—if not worse.

I took a breath.

“Ye-han.”

“Yes, Miss.”

“Bring me some tea.”

“…You’re suddenly calm. That’s even scarier.”

She muttered, but went to prepare it.

“Nanhyang, let’s sit.”

She nodded cautiously.

As I sipped tea, I began planning rationally.

“For a while, I should go out regularly—even if I don’t have business.”

“What? Shouldn’t you avoid going out?”

“If I hide, they’ll say I’m heartbroken and sulking.”

“…That’s true.”

“But there’s a problem.”

“What problem?”

I spoke seriously.

“The martial arts tournament is soon.”

The Namgung heir, Namgung Yuun, would surely achieve excellent results.

Every time he stepped onto the stage, people would mock me.

“Oh dear, So-jin. You almost married someone so amazing.”

“She should know her place. She probably knew it was impossible from the start.”

Just imagining it made my stomach hurt.

But this was precisely when I must not shrink back.

I had to hold my head high.

I’d overcome worse before.

Let’s turn crisis into opportunity again.

“That’s right. I’ll show everyone I’m strong enough not to be shaken by this.”

“…So-jin.”

“And also, um, and also…”

My confident tone faltered.

I couldn’t finish the sentence.

Nothing else came to mind.

After sitting in silence until my tea went cold, I said,

“Nanhyang, I’m sorry. Could you leave for today?”

“Will you be okay alone?”

“Yes. I want to be alone right now. I’ll come see you tomorrow. I’m sorry.”

“If anything happens, send someone to our house. Okay?”

I nodded.

She hugged me lightly and left.

Alone, I stared at the wall before slumping over the table.

It was frustrating that I had nearly entered marriage talks with the Namgung heir—yet now people would remember me as “the woman rejected by the Namgung family.”

But I didn’t stop thinking.

If I thought carefully, there must be at least one benefit.

Yes—someone might think I was worthy enough to have marriage talks with Namgung Yuun.

The Namgung clan was prestigious, after all.

I tried desperately to spin the situation positively.

It didn’t last long.

Soon I slammed my fist onto the table.

“Think realistically! As if that would happen!”

At that time—

I truly didn’t know.

That it actually would.